PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq on Thursday called for the approval of the Federal Board of Revenue’s Tajir Dost tax scheme by parliament for the next 20 years.

He also said the government should promise not to impose new taxes on businessperson after the implementation of the scheme.

“There is a need for promoting close liaison and coordination between chambers, the business community, and tax authorities to take joint measures for amicable resolution of the traders’ issues,” Mr Ishaq told businesspersons during the visit of Peshawar Regional Tax Office chief commissioner Zafar Iqbal to the SCCI premises here.

Mr Iqbal was accompanied by chief coordinator for Tajir Dost Scheme Naeem Mir, RTO Peshawar commissioner Dr Syed Farooq Jamil, and additional commissioner Aisha Dilshad.

The meeting was also attended by SCCI vice president Ejaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Haji Mohammad Afzal, Zahidullah Shinwari and Sherbaz Bilour, former senior vice-presidents Ziaul Haq Sarhadi and Imran Khan Mohmand, executive members Javed Akhtar, Hamza Ibrahim Butt, Mohammad Ismail Safi, Kashif Amin, Nadeem Rauf, Saddar Gul, Ishtiaq Mohammad, Bakht Zaman, Atif Shahzad, Malik Khalid Farooq, Ihsanullah, and Aftab Ahmad, traders, importers, and exporters.

The RTO chief commissioner and other officials briefed participants about the salient features, importance, and benefits of the Tajir Dost Scheme and said the initiative was meant to broaden the tax net.

The SCCI president said reforms were required to simplify the taxation system and bring the tax rate to a single digit.

He also said traders should be facilitated under a one-window operation.

Mr Ishaq said Pakistan annually paid Rs8 trillion on head of debt servicing for internal and external loans, while the same amount was generated through various taxes, which was insufficient for the country’s progress.

He called for the broadening of the tax base without imposing new taxes on taxpayers.

The SCCI chief said the business community wanted to see Pakistan join the ranks of developed nations, but for that purpose, authorities should adopt policies that were favourable and friendly to business, trade, and industry.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2024